199 lines
9.4 KiB
Plaintext
199 lines
9.4 KiB
Plaintext
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(word processor parameters LM=8, RM=75, TM=2, BM=2)
|
|
Taken from KeelyNet BBS (214) 324-3501
|
|
Sponsored by Vangard Sciences
|
|
PO BOX 1031
|
|
Mesquite, TX 75150
|
|
|
|
There are ABSOLUTELY NO RESTRICTIONS
|
|
on duplicating, publishing or distributing the
|
|
files on KeelyNet except where noted!
|
|
|
|
October 30, 1993
|
|
|
|
CLEANAIR.ASC
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
This file shared with KeelyNet courtesy of Bob Aldrich.
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
********************************************************************
|
|
From: Lawrence London Msg Num: 62 of 68
|
|
To: ALL Date: 03 Apr 92
|
|
00:49:10
|
|
Subj: Air cleaning plants.
|
|
Attr: Sent
|
|
Read: N
|
|
Conf: Sustainable Agriculture in rec.gardens:
|
|
From: Vivienne Ballantyne
|
|
Subject: RE: Plants that clean the air?
|
|
Date: 19 Feb 92 13:53:06 GMT
|
|
|
|
Our recycle "think Green" department put out the following list of
|
|
air cleaning plants:
|
|
|
|
Aloe or Aloe Vera, Bamboo or Reed Palm, Spider Plant, Dragon Tree,
|
|
Devil's Ivy, English Ivy, Banana Tree, Peace Lily, Bowstring Hemp,
|
|
African Gerbera, Heart-leaf Philodendron, Janet Craig and Warnecheii
|
|
Bracaena. These plants are supposed to help reduce formaldehyde,
|
|
benzene and trichloroethylene.
|
|
|
|
Article 5515 (109 more) in rec.gardens:
|
|
From: Kelly F.
|
|
Subject: Plants that Clean the Air Article
|
|
Summary: Results of NASA study and list of plants used
|
|
Date: 29 Feb 92 18:04:04 GMT
|
|
|
|
Most of the following article is from the July-August issue of
|
|
California Garden Magazine, "House Plants Do Clean Air" by Barbara
|
|
S. Jones. The original paper reference is "Interior Landscape
|
|
Plants For Indoor Air Pollution Abatement" Final Report, Sept. 15,
|
|
1989. NASA, J.C. Stennis Space center, MS.
|
|
|
|
For the past 16 years, scientists have been exploring the problem of
|
|
"sick building syndrome." People experienced skin, eye and
|
|
respiratory discomfort in tightly enclosed mobile homes and sealed
|
|
air-conditioned buildings. It was originally thought to be caused by
|
|
microorganisms, but has been proved to be caused by irritating gases
|
|
given off by the material used for and in the buildings. The major
|
|
volitile gases found were benzene, trichlorethylene and
|
|
formaldehyde.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page 1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The major items which give off these gases are:
|
|
|
|
BENZENE: ink, paint, plastics, rubber, detergents, pharmaceuticals,
|
|
dyes, etc, (Irritates the skin and eyes, can cause
|
|
headaches, nausea, etc., and can lead to chromosomal
|
|
aberrations and leukemia in humans.)
|
|
|
|
TRICHLORRETHYLENE (TCE): dry cleaning, printing inks, paints,
|
|
lacquers, varnishes, adhesives. (Liver carcinogen.)
|
|
|
|
FORMALDEHYDE: all indoor environments. WIdely used in UFFI foam
|
|
insulation, particle board and pressed wood products. Used
|
|
in grocery bags, waxed paper, facial tissues, paper towels,
|
|
fabric stiffeners, wrinkle resisters, water repellents,
|
|
fire retardants, adhesive binders, permanent-press clothes.
|
|
Produced by cigarette smoke, and heating and cooking fuels.
|
|
(Irritates the mucous membranes of eyes, nose, throat and
|
|
causes headaches.)
|
|
|
|
Sixteen common house plants which are inexpensive, easy to grow,
|
|
easily obtained and need low light levels were used for the NASA-
|
|
ALCA experiments. (Not all of the plants were used for every
|
|
experiment.) It is proven that plants remove carbon dioxide from the
|
|
air and release oxygen in the process. These tests were conducted
|
|
to see if common volitile gases could be removed from the air during
|
|
this process.
|
|
|
|
The plants were tested in sealed plexiglass containers with
|
|
controlled environments using accurate measurement devices. Sterile
|
|
soil was tested, then plants growing in soil, then plants with the
|
|
leaves removed. It was found that more volitile chemicals were
|
|
removed from the air when the plants were in pots where maximum soil
|
|
surface was exposed. (When lower leaves that touched the soil were
|
|
removed, more chemicals were removed.) Evidence indicated that the
|
|
SOIL MICROORGANISMS growing with the plants were very effective in
|
|
utilizing the chemicals.
|
|
|
|
The implication of the report was that the root-soil zone appeared
|
|
to be the most effective area for removal of volitile organic
|
|
chemicals from the air. All of the plants tested did remove some of
|
|
the chemicals as well as carbon dioxide from the air.
|
|
|
|
The plants tested were:
|
|
|
|
_Chamaedorea selfritzii_ (bamboo palm);
|
|
_Aglaonema modestum_ (Chinese evergreen);
|
|
_Hedera helix_ (English ivy);
|
|
_Fiscus benjamina_ ;
|
|
_Gerbera jamesonii_;
|
|
_Chrysanthemum moriflium_ (Florists' Mum);
|
|
_Sansevieria laurentii_ (Snake Plant);
|
|
_Spathiphyllum_ "Mauan" (Peace Lily);
|
|
_D.marginata, D. massangeana_ (Corn Cane);
|
|
_Philodendron oxycardium_ (heart leaf);
|
|
_P. domesticum_ (elephant's ear);
|
|
_P. selloum_ (lace tree);
|
|
_Chlorophytum elatum_ (spider plant);
|
|
_Musa oriana_ (banana);
|
|
_Scindapsus aureus_ (Golden pathos);
|
|
and _Aloe vera_
|
|
Page 2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In these experiments the most effective plants for the removal of
|
|
formaldehyde were the banana, snake plant, english ivy, bamboo palm
|
|
and the heart leafed philodendron.
|
|
|
|
The most effective plants in removing Benzene were Gerbera daisy,
|
|
pot mum, english ivy, and snake plant.
|
|
|
|
The most effective plants in removing TCE were the gerbera daisy and
|
|
english ivy.
|
|
|
|
Remember, not all 16 were tested on all chemicals and there may be
|
|
many other plants not tested that are equally, if not more,
|
|
effective in removing volitle chemicals from the air. The
|
|
experiments are just the beginning and many more need to be done
|
|
before the 'world's best air cleaner" plant can be identified.
|
|
|
|
Today its very stylish to have house plants. Slick publications show
|
|
home interiors loaded with plants, jewelry and fashions are shown
|
|
with plants, celebrities sit with plants. Many of these plants are
|
|
artificial. Homes and businesses are loaded with artificial plants.
|
|
|
|
Unfortunately, most of the artficial plants increase "sick building
|
|
syndrome" problems. Not only do the plants give off volatile
|
|
chemicals, but they collect germ-carrying dust. Enclosed
|
|
environments would be healthier and smell better if artificial
|
|
plants were eliminated.
|
|
|
|
Ed. note: It has been estimated that it takes one growing houseplant
|
|
for every 100 square feet to clean the air of an average
|
|
home.
|
|
|
|
My notes (Kelly): I think the important points of this article are:
|
|
The plants are not doing the majority of 'air cleaning' its the
|
|
microbes! A healthy soil and large soil surface for air exchange is
|
|
something to keep in mind when using plants for this particular
|
|
purpose. I've also seen living plants in nurseries carrying 'we
|
|
clean the air' tags which is obviously a rip off of the study and
|
|
just another way to get you to buy their product. Buy what will grow
|
|
for YOU and what you enjoy looking at every day...Finally, its just
|
|
ONE study about this subject, its not the bible so take it all witha
|
|
few grains of salt...:)
|
|
|
|
Kelly
|
|
|
|
! Origin: EARTH*Net*Home:SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE ECHO*919-9323115
|
|
(1:151/502)
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
If you have comments or other information relating to such topics
|
|
as this paper covers, please upload to KeelyNet or send to the
|
|
Vangard Sciences address as listed on the first page.
|
|
Thank you for your consideration, interest and support.
|
|
|
|
Jerry W. Decker.........Ron Barker...........Chuck Henderson
|
|
Vangard Sciences/KeelyNet
|
|
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
If we can be of service, you may contact
|
|
Jerry at (214) 324-8741 or Ron at (214) 242-9346
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Page 3
|
|
|
|
|